Mechanism for converting a rifle from semi-automatic to automatic firing



BERETTA 3,021,763 MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TO AUTOMATIC FIRING Feb. 20, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1960 @vlnnr: 42- t Feb. 20, 1962 P. c. BERETTA 3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC T0 AUTOMATIC FIRING Filed April 6, 1960 v 6 Sheets-Sheet? FIG. 2a

Altar-Ila)! Feb. 20, 1962 P. c. BERETTA 3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC T0 AUTOMATIC FIRING 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6, 1960 amrn j P. C. BERETTA Feb. 20, 1962 3,021,763

' MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TO AUTOMATIC FIRING 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1960 flaw.-

7291 ar a eni n bm j I Feb. 20, 1962 P. c. BERETTA 3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TO AUTOMATIC FIRING Filed April 6, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 inni Feb. 20, 1962 P. c. BERETTA 3,021,763

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC TO AUTOMATIC FIRING 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 6. 1960 Federated Feb. 20, 1962 3,021,753 MECHANHSM FOR CONVERTING A RIFLE FROM SEMI-AUTOMATIC T AUTGMATHC FIRING Pier Carlo Beretta, Via Siepi 6, Gardone Valtrompia, Italy Filed Apr. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 20,394 Claims priority, application Italy May 23, 1959 2 Claims. (Cl. 89-140) On the other hand, it is also desirable to retain on a rifle the characteristics of semi-automatic operation which may be undoubtedly useful in the caseof an accurate and precise firing. In order to ensure a number of shots corresponding to the requirements of automatic operation, the arrangement considered has been provided for its application to a Garand rifle with a box-shaped magazine in place of the original clip charger.

According to the invention, there is incorporated with the components of the semi-automatic rifle and with the box-shaped magazine a member adapted for a preliminary stage of automatic operation to disconnect the sear or detent with reference to the trigger when the bolt and the operating rod have reached the position corresponding to the end of the introduction of a cartridge into the barrel. The disconnection of the hammer and, consequently, the firing of the cartridge are performed automatically and are repeated in succession until themagazine is exhausted or else until the marksman has released the pressure exerted by him on the trigger.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of'the invention, to wit:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one side of a gun with part thereof shown in section, and with the bolt in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar side view of the rifle as seen from the opposite side together with a cross-section through the pivot of the selector lever;

FIG. 2a is a partial sectional view taken along the line 2a-2a of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the successive stages of the automatic operation of the rifle;

FIG. 6 illustrates a type of control lever employed in this gun;

FIG. 7 illustrates a selectorlever of the type employed in this gun;

FIG. 7a is a view looking at the left side of the lever in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a view of the device which interconnects the selector lever and the automatic control lever;

FIG. 8a is a view looking at the left side of the device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 illustrates in contradistinction the semi-automatic operation of the rifle shot by shot.

In the accompanying drawing, the reference letters designate the original parts of regular Garand rifles and the arrows indicate the direction in which parts move (unless ortherwise indicated), while the reference numbers designate the different components of the novel arrangement incorporated with the rifle, according to the invention. It should be understood furthermore that the operations ensuring the successive hammer setting and releasing steps, the introduction of the cartridges'and the extraction of the cartridge case after firing, etc. are executed in conformity with the original design of the regular rifle with a reciprocation of the bolt and of the operating rod simultaneously with the action exerted by the marksman on the trigger. In particular, the following reference letters designate the following parts:

a designates the bolt progressing and receding alternatingly under the action of the recovering springs acting against the thrust exerted by the shot.

b designates the receiver extending above the trigger "casing.

c designates the hammer.

d designates a plunger on the spring acting on the hammer and enclosing said spring.

e designates the trigger with the projection e (primary sear) there for engagement with the hammer.

f designates the secondary sear provided with a projection f, the sear being pivotally secured to the body of the trigger.

g designates the operating rod on which the recovering spring acts.

.As already mentioned, FIG. 1 is a side view of the rifle as seen from the right hand side, the bolt being in its closed or forward position.

Turning now to the reference numerals relating to the novel incorporated parts, 1 designates the automatic control lever pivotally secured to the side of receiver b at point 3, the front end of said lever forming a shaped projection 2. The lever is urged by a spring 4- (mounted in a recess 4 in lever 1 and guided by a pin 4" on receiver 12 tobear against the latter) so as to constrain the projection 2 to engage the lower side of the operating rod 'g which is subjected to the action of the conventional recovering spring which is not illustrated for sake of clarity.

It should be remarked that the lever 1 pivoting roundthe point 3 may assume dilferent angular positions in a vertical plane under the action of the spring 4 according to the position assumed by the rod g which reciprocates simultaneously with the bolt.

FIG. 2 is a view of the rifie from the left hand side and in addition to the parts illustrated in FIG. 1, it shows a selector lever 7 which is adapted to assume as required by the marksman one of two angular positions designated by In and Ila respectively corresponding to semi-automatic shot by shot operation and automatic operation.

The lever 7 has a slot 7' which engages with a rectangular portion 8' at one end of pivot 8 which passes through the forward end of the receiver b and carries at its opposite end a small plate or guidebracket 9 folded into channel of the lever 1 controlling automatic firing. The lever 7 is subjected to the action of the over-center type spring 7' guided in recess 7 in the lever and secured to the receiver lathe spring holding 7 in either of its positions Ia or Ila. It will be remarked that upon shifting by hand the lever 7 from the position Ia into the position Ila there is obtained a rotary movement of the pivot 8 and consequently of the small plate 9.

v The different positionsassumed by the latter define through its projecting end or else through its upper nose i1 dilferent angular positions in a vertical plane for the lever 1. The front end of the lever 1 is raised in fact by the projecting end 10 or else it is urged downwardly by the upper nose or log 11, Thus the rear end 1 of said lever 1 has a sloping camrned surface (FIG. 1) which engages or disengages the sear f with reference to the hammer, the projection or lug l0 limiting the pivotal I I has entered it I I projection eZ The endiof the ievercontrolling automaticf I I 'fi'ring'is' raised to the maximn'ma'or the motion allowed :b I I I the positions assumed by thele'ver 7 bythe fro d 'g and 3 :by the thrust exerted by: the spring 4.- Consequently the rear-end 1? of the leve'r 11. is loweredrto a maximum and its. i I I carnmed surface engage's'tlie sloping snrfacef formed on the'seeondary sear 1. The rear ends ofi the-hammer has I I not yet engaged the protection f j on :the sear I state the I I bolt engages in its rearr'nost position 'thejbfack {of said I I :hammer, and :holdsi it 1 completely reversed a d I facing. jdownwardlyrm.

III

i I PEG. 4' illiistrate's 1 for: premature firing er ii'ring outside} the harreL i 3 I FIG. 5 illustrates the thirdjand final stageLo-fa tem ati'c I i operation. The .bolt a and the operating rodj g have I I 3 reached their final cios'ing positionx As a resultof the l f I 1 anew/es 'D'iQfiDHiCf leverl during automatic? operation. so end. 1

. will not become disengaged from the sear f; j I f I I I II I II I I FICL. 3. is alview from the right hand side of the first 3 stage of auto natie operation; the selector lever is set by. the marksman in thepos itioniia. for autorhatie firing- I I 3 Themarksman has drawn thetrigger e rearwardly whi le- I the-bolt a and the'rod g are at the rearmost. end of their l receding ntotiongafter the firing of a shot; The hammer; e. I

inverted position and is; not engaged by I 1 I I 3 ing red I reciprocate-in a; receiver rearwardly to cook; a; I I I I hammer and their move forwardly to chambera cartridge I andlooksaid bolt before release-ofthe cocked hammer; I

ncrtheflever 1 are in contact with each other final stroke executed by the rod g, the end 2 of the lever is now in contact with the underside of the rod g so that forward end of the lever 1 has turned by a further angle downwardly while its rear end has raised and urged again rearwardly the sear f, which latter has therefore disengaged the hammer. The hammer in its turn hits the striker and produces the firing of the cartridge simultaneously with the closing of the rifle by the gas check.

The cycle of operations is then resumed starting from the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the rifle firing shot by shot in a semi-automatic manner. The marksman sets vfor such an operation the selector lever 7 in its position la. The pivot 8 turns consequently together with the small plate 9 rigid therewith and the upper nose 11 projecting with reference to said plate engages the upper side of the lever in the front section of the latter.

Thus the lever 1 sinks through its front end and is no longer subjected to the action of the operating rod g while its rear end rises and this shifting movement provides a I I I I the 'seeondsta'ge of autoxnatic oper'a- I 1 r 1 tion I Il1eb01t 1a andthe operating rod .g move forwardly 3 .nnder-theaetion of the recovering: spring and are about; 1 .to reach their final closing-position. In such apositi'on; f -ihe'rddg? ufriderthe actio ri er the s ring; 4- along the sloping} planes I I o r CamIsurfaces S and 6 formed onsaid rod and on said} lever, respectively; 1 Consequently,; gthe lever I I has a tendenoyto .e lowered? aritsifr em 'andfto penises t its. f I irear end. Asa result'oi the shape. given toIt he rear end :lfi I or level, i the sear; pivoted onI trigger e is shifted for i I waydly so as to engage its projection f with the coopejrat-f I ing projection e on thehammer and-tosetthe latter in. its 'rearly-to fire position The. engagement of; said hammer I :with the sear has for 'ijtsobjeettop'revent said hammer 1 ,frohijfiririg a further cartridge before the holtghas'reachjed: 3 theend of s cl oIsin'g motion; This, outsfoutthe possibility] at rd f complete disengagement; (see x) between the lever; end. 1' I I e -vv' a-r a m I I .1 In a semiautomatic rifle o f theGar'and, type or? the j said receiver; s I I rear endth'ereofgdisposed to engage Ssaijd sear when said I ing a triggerasten movable 'ther I hammer inits eoekedposition,a earn SJIfQtZE o 1 sa d open;

emigre I I tion onithefdrward and hereeffg 'ositioned to be inthe peer I 25;

% mounted. on one side} of said; reeeivier and :adiustablej to I render said rifle automaitie I I ihaving-spac-edupper and lower lateral lugs tnereon, which, I I Wilfitl :said I I rifle; extend espectivelyovjer and under tlieiforward j .endof said. lever,= whereby I 1 the eockingof saidhammer; during; automaticiifle opera I I I and the sear f at anymoment, so that said s'ear is hencei forward-adapted to exeeute, without any/further .conneo; I

tions, the operations provided in accordance with the f I orlgiuahdesign' ofthe. fire-arm i.e. the semi-automatic operation controlled fisher: by shot by the action of the marksman an the trigger,

like wherein upon the firing ofsaid Iireja bolt and. opera: I

g said rifle'fully automati'cgcompris-I j I pivotaliy ,mountedon; said trigger and I I witi upon movementjtoiand retention of I said trigger in its fired position, to engage an'l hold said I a device for: r print a spring loadedilever ext iidi lg I I said. rifle and pivoted intermediate its ends to the'side fof I I d? leverhavingf a dammed surface. on the I I triggergis; in its tired position, said lever having aprojece f 3 citing; rod when said trigger is r :of 'm overnent of saido e I I I I ally adjustable selector bracket I is fired; position, r1

or seImh-automanesaid hraeltet j f ltion said operating rod moves forwardly: so that :the .cam I I 1 f 1 urface thereon engages said 'proieetion ,;thereby; eausing I I said lever to, be pivotediagainst its spring. load, the for- I award end thereof to be urged downwardly against said f I lower dug, and theeammedsurf ace on the; rear; end. of saiId i I I I lever to pivot said sear? on 'jsaidtrigger to release: said I I j hammer from its ,eoeked positiom. I I I I I II I 2. lament-st ms; as at the typedefiriedin slain": 3 I I 1 wherein said bracket is fixed toone end of a shaft rota't ably mounted in said receiver, said shaft having a handle fixed to the opposite end thereof, whereby upon rotation of said handle toward the rear of said rifle from its automatic to semi-automatic position, said bracket is pivoted and moves its lower lug from beneath the forward end of said lever while urging said upper lug against the upper side of said lever to thereby pivot the latter to remove its projection from the path of said operating rod and its cammed rear end from engagement with said soar and rendering the rifle semiautomatic in operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,452,617 Wechsler Nov. 2, 1948 2,464,418 Sefried Mar. 15, 1949 2,465,487 Sampson et a1 i- Mar. 29, 1949 2,568,198 Loomis et a1 Sept. 18, 1951 2,572,872 Ketterer Oct. 30, 1951 2,715,355 Garand Aug. 16, 1955 

